Alien: Romulus 'Fixed' Terrible Ian Holm CGI for Home Release but Fans Still Think It’s Pretty Bad

Alien: Romulus, a critical and commercial success, has already spurred a sequel. However, one aspect universally criticized was the CGI depiction of Ian Holm.

Holm, who passed away in 2020, famously portrayed the android Ash in Ridley Scott's Alien. His controversial CGI return in Alien: Romulus drew significant backlash for its distracting and unrealistic appearance. The effect was so poorly received that a popular fan edit entirely removed Holm's character.

Director Fede Alvarez addressed the criticism, stating in an Empire interview that post-production time constraints hindered the CGI refinement. He acknowledged the negative reactions, stating he wasn't fully satisfied with the theatrical release's CGI.

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For the home release, Alvarez implemented improvements, allocating additional resources to enhance the CGI. The revised version incorporates more practical puppetry, reducing the reliance on CGI.

Despite the improvements, fan reactions remain mixed. While some acknowledge a slight enhancement, many still find Holm's appearance distracting, questioning the necessity of his inclusion. Reddit discussions highlight this ongoing debate, with comments ranging from "Better, but still awfully uncanny" to criticisms of the initial decision to include him.

A Reddit user, u/Davidedby, in r/LV426, directly compared the Blu-ray and digital versions, showcasing the changes. The home release utilizes tighter camera angles, minimizing the visibility of the CGI face and emphasizing the practical effects.

The overall sentiment persists that the CGI, even improved, remains unsatisfactory and that resurrecting a deceased actor through such means was unnecessary.

Despite the CGI controversy, Alien: Romulus achieved considerable box office success, grossing $350 million globally. A sequel, Alien: Romulus 2, is currently under consideration by 20th Century Studios, with Alvarez potentially returning to direct.